Nutcracker Market

https://www.houstonballet.org/support-us/special-events/nutcracker-market/tickets-events/fall-tickets/?utmcampaign=smg-2026-nutcrackermktsale&gadsource=1&gadcampaignid=24287273515&gbraid=0AAAAA9iLGBTTQbMFXe-L1iImrjPgCj5g&gclid=CjwKCAjwotzWBhBFEiwA1JhPoNQxqaSkRsVlFKIkf8wGDWU4gYt0pzQkxVPIHWqLFeIl0nRKC3JEWxoCDRQQAvDBwE

https://www.houstonballet.org/support-us/special-events/nutcracker-market/plan-your-visit/shoppers-tips/

Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market has become the signature holiday fundraising shopping event in Texas that kicks off the holiday season! It is a one-stop shop featuring hundreds of merchants, offering unique items for everyone, including home décor, gifts, food, apparel, toys, accessories and more. It is the best way to shop and give back during the holidays, as proceeds from each admission and special event ticket that is purchased, plus 11% of all the merchandise you buy, goes back to Houston Ballet.
HISTORY
In 1981, visions of sugar plums inspired long-time Houston Ballet supporter Preston Frazier to approach the board of Houston Ballet Guild with a new concept and means to raise much needed funds for the Houston Ballet, its Academy and scholarship programs. His dream of a holiday market in the tradition of a European or Latin American street market has grown steadily and spectacularly ─ from humble beginnings in a church bazaar setting to a four-day shopping extravaganza at NRG Center. In 2024, more than 99,000 customers with a strong passion to shop spent $23 million at hundreds of booths ─ each offering unique items for the entire family, including home décor, gourmet food, apparel, accessories, toys, men's items and much, much more … and all of this just in time for holiday shopping!

From the moment former First Lady Barbara Bush cut the ribbon at the opening of the Nutcracker Market, and through the many successful years filled with a lot of enthusiasm, imagination and dreams, the Nutcracker Market has become an annual tradition that kicks off the holiday season in Houston, Texas.
“Texas. It’s a whole other country,” goes the slogan.
We might say, “The Nutcracker Market. It’s a whole other world!”
!A vibrant holiday market scene with red flooring, festive decorations, and a large nutcracker banner overhead. !A large inflatable nutcracker stands on a green lawn, surrounded by skyscrapers under a clear blue sky. !A crowded indoor event with many people browsing colorful displays and decorations, set against a red carpet.
MISSION
Proceeds from each admission and special event ticket that you purchase, plus 11% of all the merchandise you buy, goes back to Houston Ballet, its Academy and scholarship programs.
Since 1981, Nutcracker Market, including Nutcracker Market SPRING, has contributed over $97.6 million back to Houston Ballet to help:

Bring arts education to 71,569 Houston-area students through the Houston Ballet Academy’s Education and Community Engagement programs.
Award $218,720 in scholarships to this past season (2022-2023) to continue their dream of studying dance at Houston Ballet Academy.
Give students from 295 Houston-area schools their first opportunity to see a ballet and hear from dancers through free programing, performances and classes at Houston Ballet’s prestigious Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance.

Shopping at the Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market means you are directly supporting an arts nonprofit and the money raised stays right here in Houston!